Friday Screening, Nick Offerman, Redbird Lunch: What to Do in Los Angeles This Week

Here are the five coolest things to do in and around L.A. this week. We publish a new list every Wednesday, covering Thursday through Wednesday. Stay tuned for insider updates on restaurant openings, festivals, exhibitions, shows, weekend escapes, and more.

August 26 | Film screening and discussionFridayIce Cube is in the limelight for Straight Outta Compton—the docudrama about his trailblazing band N.W.A.—but true nineties kids remember him for the memorable hit Friday. Artist Mark Bradford, whose Scorched Earth exhibition is currently on view at the Hammer, selected this movie for screening for its broader themes. The film will be followed by a discussion about “the hood,” led by journalist Ernest Hardy and author-professor Tisa Bryant.7:30 p.m. | Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Westwood | Free | website

August 27 | Book releaseNick OffermanFor everyone yearning for a little Ron Swanson fix (Nick Offerman’s man’s-man character on Parks and Recreation), Offerman’s new book is the perfect answer. Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America’s Gutsiest Troublemakers is a book about Americans with heart and a good bit of grit. What better way to introduce yourself to this book than at the famed Largo with a “release show?” This promises to be an evening to remember.Doors 7 p.m., show 8:30 p.m. | Largo at the Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Grove | $40 (includes a copy of the book) | website

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August 28 | Food festivalWine and DineThe Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival always promises a rollicking good time for a foodie. One of the must-attend events is Chef Neal Fraser, of Redbird fame, cooking lunch with Chef Marcus Glocker, from Batard, NYC. Both chefs have received multiple honors and accolades. This is a reservation you don’t want to miss, and will feature multiple courses with wine pairings—so consider taking a cab home.Noon–2:30 p.m. | Redbird,114 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles | $125 | website

August 30 | MusicErykah Badu, St. Vincent, Moses SumneyThis dynamite lineup at the legendary Hollywood Bowl is the perfect soundtrack for an end-of-summer evening. Badu is well known for her musical prowess, and St. Vincent and local favorite Moses Sumney are the perfect artists to couple the meditative with the downright intoxicating. They will make you want to groove until late into the night, or at least until stacked parking says it’s time to leave.7 p.m. | Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles | website

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Weekend GetawayRich Jacobs in Laguna BeachPacific Coast Highway, or PCH as the locals call it, is miles and miles of ocean bliss. But if you’re looking to combine surf with art in a perfectly SoCal way, then Artists Republic 4 Tomorrow (AR4T) is calling your name. AR4T was founded to give wall space to artists who are also leaders in life. (Think: travelers, curators, musicians, skateboarders, surfers, teachers, and builders.) They are currently showcasing the art of Rich Jacobs, an artist whose work includes a unique blend of folk, psychedelic, and graffiti art magazine covers, CD and LP covers, and even shoes and skateboards. His form of expression is tantalizing and musically driven.Noon–6 p.m. or by appointment | AR4T, 1175 South Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach | (949) 988-0603 | website

Eva Glettner is a writer and a native Angeleno. She loves art, travel, coffee, and skateboarding.